An appeal has been launched by Wiltshire Council to raise £260,000 to get the county’s second mobile chemotherapy unit rolling.

It is part of Wiltshire’s Big Pledge, a campaign to encourage people to make a difference to their community, and funds will go to the charity Hope for Tomorrow.

It runs the mobile chemotherapy units that reduce the long distances and waiting times for treatment that cancer patients often endure.

Council leader Jane Scott said in launching the appeal: “We all know people who have been affected by this dreadful disease. A number of council staff and officials were diagnosed, some of them have their brave battles including Councillor Linda Conley who died from breast cancer in October 2013.

“In a rural county like Wiltshire many face long journeys to the hospital for chemotherapy. The units provide a pleasant and friendly atmosphere for people to receive treatment.”

The council will be holding a number of events to raise money, including a quiz and curry night for council staff on September 16. It is also urging people outside of the council to get involved and arrange their own fundraisers.

Coun Jon Hubbard, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, said: “I stand squarely behind Jane on this. Cancer is a scurge and we must do all we can to fight this disease.

“I lost my mother to cancer and spent time taking her to hospital in Bath for chemotherapy.”

Each mobile chemotherapy unit costs the charity £260,000 to build and maintain for the first three years, but staff are provided by the NHS. The units treat up to 20 patients a day.

Wiltshire’s first unit was launched in May 2012 and named Kayleigh in memory of Kayleigh Louise Wicks from Christian Malford who lost her battle against cancer in 2011, aged 23.

For more information: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/healthandsocialcare/publichealthwilts/bigpledge